Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › After Hours Lounge › Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

post #1 of 30
6/14/07 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
Okay, so, I finally decided to take my Civil Service Exam. I bought a book and I am fairly confident I will do well enough.

My main question is, I need help figuring out where I should apply.

I am going to apply for the Post Office, no questions asked, just cause it's a great way to get my foot in the door. If they hire me. My friend has been on the list for a very long time now.

I am also contemplating Park Ranger (cause I've wanted to do it since I was a little kid), but I am lost after that. The only jobs I've held have all been grunt jobs. Stocking, cart boy, bus boy, waiter. The only reasonable job I have is the hospital and I really don't find much about it interesting enough to persue a career in it. I guess I'm afraid I'm underqualified for any spots, but aside form that, I really don't know what else is offered by the Gov't.

I am aiming for a Fed job over State, but anywhere to start will be better than what I've got now.

Can anyone help me???
Reply
post #2 of 30
6/14/07 at 8:56pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

There's all sorts of shit in government. If you're not looking for a fantastic salary (but something livable) check into your county government. Most people don't think of the county, but — at least in my area — they're responsible for a great deal of the non-degree specific jobs. Do you have a college degree? If so, what in?

I've spent the last six summers working for my old home town supervising the office that makes employee and resident ID cards. There's all sorts of niche jobs in government for those who know who to talk to and where to apply. Local and county civil service exams are also often less demanding than the ones you take at the state and federal levels.
Reply
post #3 of 30
6/14/07 at 9:09pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

I have no college degree, nor do I have any college period under my belt. I was thinking about going to Brookdale (a community college) for electronics and than training for BioMed in the hospital. The hospital will pay for it, but I have to sign a 2 year contract with them afterwards or pay them back.

I want to get into working a Gov't job and I'll settle for just about anything. I need to make about double what I'm making now. I make about 16,500 right now and I need to get to, at the least, 30K so I can afford a place of my own and to finance a new car.

I guess I'll just browse through the little pamphlet and see what they list, of the 35,000 jobs. >.< Man, I've got a LOT of searching to do!

So many choices, so little time!
Reply
post #4 of 30
6/15/07 at 8:35pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Check out this site:

http://www.usajobs.com/

Many, though not quite all federal agencies use USA Jobs as a listing and application site. It'll give you a solid idea of what jobs are out there, all in one place...It also has a good section on info about fed jobs.

If you haven't already, check out The Chief which is a weekly paper for civil servants...I could be wrong, but I think it's published every Tuesday.

Great advice given above to look at local government for jobs too...i'm a federal employee but if I could go back 20 years and start over, I'd definitely go for county jobs where I live.
Reply
post #5 of 30
6/16/07 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

You'd rather work a county job? Just curious, but why would you rather work county?

Thank you for the link, it should help a lot!
Reply
post #6 of 30
6/16/07 at 11:40am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch
You'd rather work a county job? Just curious, but why would you rather work county?

Thank you for the link, it should help a lot!

You're welcome, I hope the link helps.

In my area the county jobs generally have a higher starting salary, though not by much. The peak salaries in county jobs here are often significantly better however when viewed against comparable federal jobs. The county pension benefits are also better where I live, whereas the health beneifts are about the same. Vacation, holiday, and sick leave are also virtually the same.

There's no comparable county job for what I do specifically, but there is a state job comparable to mine, and the state's comparable position has a lower starting salary by about $8k annually, but a significantly higher peak salary by about $7k annually.

Our county is also managed much better (now) than my federal agency which makes ultimately for a better working environment.

All this relates only to my area and yours may differ...But definitely look into county jobs, jobs at other local gov't levels such as city/town/village if any of those apply to your area and don't forget the state as well.
Reply
post #7 of 30
6/16/07 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Thanks for you advice man. I bookmarked that page. Been busy so I haven't had a chance to look thru it, but I will shortly. Been studying up for the exam and flipping through a dictionary to try to get my vocabulary up cause this redneck ain't too keen on words bigger than 4 letters.

LOL!!!!!
Reply
post #8 of 30
6/17/07 at 2:16pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

I have no degree. I'm an air traffic controller. Good job, good pay. BUT, the FAA Administrator, Marionette Snakely, err... Marion Blakey has a management style reminiscent of Atilla the Hun, yet somehow less personable. You will be lied to as far as expected salary. Salaries for new hires have been radically cut, but they will imply that you will earn the same salary as current controllers when you are fully certified. This is not true.

Our union is working very hard to get us back to the negotiating table to finish contract details that the FAA claimed were at impasse, and at which time they imposed new work rules. We are without a contract, despite whatever FAA management tells you. Until then, there is likely to be no change in work conditions. Morale here is very poor. We have one of the lowest employee attitude survey scores in government. Recently, Ms. Snakely announced a new plan to improve them: tie the OSI (Operational Success Increase, aka, our annual raise) to our employee attitude survey score. Yes, you read that right: our raise partly depends on telling the FAA how happy we all are to work there. Such antics woud seem too far-fetched for a Dilbert cartoon, but they are shockingly real here.

I hope other agencies are not this bad.
Reply
post #9 of 30
6/17/07 at 9:22pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Good to know. I wasn't planning on going into ATC, but I know someone who is. Thanks for the heads up man, I hope things turn around for you.



OT, Cool dog!! What breed?
Reply
post #10 of 30
6/18/07 at 6:30am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Foster
Recently, Ms. Snakely announced a new plan to improve them: tie the OSI (Operational Success Increase, aka, our annual raise) to our employee attitude survey score. Yes, you read that right: our raise partly depends on telling the FAA how happy we all are to work there. Such antics woud seem too far-fetched for a Dilbert cartoon, but they are shockingly real here.
This shocked me, but after a quick Google, I found similar speculation (emphasis mine):
Quote:
Additionally, an online notice posted to the FocusFAA bulletin board Wednesday indicated that the agency must meet several of its performance targets this year, including improving the scores on its Employee Attitude Survey and shortening the processing time for employee grievances, in order for employees to earn full increases. (http://govexec.com/dailyfed/0507/053107b1.htm)


As for gov't jobs: I don't know job what requires what degrees, but my dad worked many years for the IRS. And before that, a few years with the Marines.

The hospital gig sounds pretty good: they pay for your education with only two years service required? Free education and employment. And the prospect of a job with a future. A man could do a lot worse in the long run.
Reply
post #11 of 30
6/18/07 at 6:48am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

We're hoping for a turnaround, too. Eligible controllers started retiring at a rate of three a day when the new work rules were imposed. We can't train replacement controllers fast enough to backfill, especially when new hires find out how much they are going to be paid and quit.

New controllers attend the academy at $8.50 an hour with no per diem. Classes are half full, and Ms. Snakely seems surprised by this. People get offers, accept them, and then don't show when they realize that they can't support themselves at the academy and their family at home. It's nuts.

Oh, and Suque is a Blue Heeler.
Reply
post #12 of 30
6/18/07 at 9:13am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Foster
I have no degree. I'm an air traffic controller. Good job, good pay. BUT, the FAA Administrator, Marionette Snakely, err... Marion Blakey has a management style reminiscent of Atilla the Hun, yet somehow less personable. You will be lied to as far as expected salary. Salaries for new hires have been radically cut, but they will imply that you will earn the same salary as current controllers when you are fully certified. This is not true.

Our union is working very hard to get us back to the negotiating table to finish contract details that the FAA claimed were at impasse, and at which time they imposed new work rules. We are without a contract, despite whatever FAA management tells you. Until then, there is likely to be no change in work conditions. Morale here is very poor. We have one of the lowest employee attitude survey scores in government. Recently, Ms. Snakely announced a new plan to improve them: tie the OSI (Operational Success Increase, aka, our annual raise) to our employee attitude survey score. Yes, you read that right: our raise partly depends on telling the FAA how happy we all are to work there. Such antics woud seem too far-fetched for a Dilbert cartoon, but they are shockingly real here.I hope other agencies are not this bad.

I've been telling my wife (an airline pilot) what a vile woman this Blakely is. Last week on an NBC report talking about near misses and troubles at the FAA she said it's the pilots who are at fault. All I can say is wait until January 20, 2009 for things to improve.
Reply
post #13 of 30
6/18/07 at 10:09am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Without getting specifically political, controllers and pilots tend to be a conservative lot, but I am detecting a serious shift in that.

Certainly, there are places where the private sector works much more efficiently than a government entity can. And I have had discussions with friends about the potential for "competative outsourcing" of our services. When they say that they could be ok with it, I ask how they would feel about their local police and fire being contracted to the lowest bidder. Would they feel safe? How is safety in the skies any different? Usually, the point gets across.

Snakely has also instituded an "express" training program across the country, seeking to cut training time for new hires by 1/2 or more.

Feeling safer yet? I have my retirement "good time" October 29th, 2009. Eligible to go on october 29th, 2014. I want out as soon as I can go. I can change to a different federal service after I have my good time, and I may just do that if things don't change.

Snakely's term expires this September. Russ Chew has already bailed. I hope someone new is appointed, though the devil we know could potentially end up looking better than the devil we don't.
Reply
post #14 of 30
6/18/07 at 12:16pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

I'm trying not to get political here but it's not just the FAA that has suffered since January 2001. (Actually since 1981).
My last job was a QA Specialist for the D.O.D. and before that with the U.S.D.A. I am so glad I don't work there anymore.
When I started in 1970 a civil service career in the federal gov't was a really good option. With the civil service retirement system you felt like you were set for life. I think now it's just like any other job.
Reply
post #15 of 30
6/18/07 at 2:51pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
The hospital gig sounds pretty good: they pay for your education with only two years service required? Free education and employment. And the prospect of a job with a future. A man could do a lot worse in the long run.

It's not a bad gig, if you can get past only making 16K a year and living out of your car.

My problem now is, through situations I will not explain here, I am living out of my car (which is kinda broken to boot). I shower either at the gym or at work, which sucks, and I'm sleeping at my GF's house. It's really her parents house and I'm sure they aren't pleased with the fact that I am sleeping in the same bed as her without being married (not that I don't plan to marry her).

I need to get my salary up to a minimum of 24K a year so I can get a place of my own. I'm getting my state life insurance license in the beginning of July and will have my loan and mortgage licenses shortly after that, but that job is commission and I have to go out and find customers. It's not like they walk in the door and beg for a life insurance policy. If it were only that easy.

I mean, I'm sure that things will start to go better once I get licensed and start building my business, but I need a fallback no mater what and a Gov't job (as explained by the instructor of the class) is the most secure thing I can get. He said "Once you are hired, you'd have to commit an act of terrorism to get fired". I'm sure if you were convicted of killing someone, you'd get fired as well, but the key word there is "convicted". LOL!!

Long story short, as much as I want to go back to school and get the "free" (up to $1500 a year) education, I don't have time to wait around. I know it makes a lot of sense, considering how you have to wait once you pass the civil service exam, but I'm sure I could get something, anything, within 2 years.
Reply
post #16 of 30
6/18/07 at 5:28pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

That's an exaggeration — don't count on being able to screw around and getting away with it — and budget cut backs often mean the lowest rungs get laid off first.
But generally speaking, job security is much stronger than in the private sector. And more importantly, you're set for benefits (either paid for by the government or pooled in through a group rate with all of your co-workers) and some form of retirement which is less and less of a sure thing in the private sector.
Reply
post #17 of 30
6/18/07 at 5:57pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

The stability of gov't jobs isn't quite what it used to be. My agency has been targeted by the current administration which at one point wanted to contract out 50% of our agency workforce to private contractors.

In my building alone, nearly 800 people have lost their jobs in the last 3 years after being "riffed", which is gov't slang for "reduction in force". In my prior work location, at least 1500 people lost their jobs. In short, jobs were moved elsewhere in the country or eliminted entirely as part of a consolidation.

Job stability in gov't depends on your agency, federal budgets and a host of other factors...You can most certainly get fired from my agency for failing to perform at an acceptable level, and for a big variety of other reasons.
Reply
post #18 of 30
6/18/07 at 11:41pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Yep. And you'd think that the safest and busiest air traffic system in the world would not be susceptable to bean counting, but we are. Flog the troops to get performance is the new motto. Fifty dead people in Lexington make no difference to them...they pass the buck, blame the pilots, and move on. Do more with less, and squeeze the crap out of GA pilots who can't get through to a flight service station to file a flight plan any more.
Reply
post #19 of 30
6/19/07 at 6:49am
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

I know being the low man in means, I'd be the first to go when the time comes, but either way, it's way more secure than anything I can get elsewhere. What I have now, they would for the most part let me get away with a lot, but that is because they can't afford to lose me and I don't get paid squat. They lose me, they will have one guy who would than have to work 13+ hours a day at least 5 days a week and their little pee-on would be gone. They'd have no one else to push their shit on.
Reply
post #20 of 30
6/19/07 at 7:02am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
My problem now is, through situations I will not explain here, I am living out of my car (which is kinda broken to boot). I shower either at the gym or at work, which sucks, and I'm sleeping at my GF's house.
Certainly puts your location into a new light.

--
H
Reply
post #21 of 30
6/19/07 at 5:50pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Foster
Yep. And you'd think that the safest and busiest air traffic system in the world would not be susceptable to bean counting, but we are. Flog the troops to get performance is the new motto. Fifty dead people in Lexington make no difference to them...they pass the buck, blame the pilots, and move on. Do more with less, and squeeze the crap out of GA pilots who can't get through to a flight service station to file a flight plan any more.

They count beans, but swing an ax these days. The future looks even worse as when the big fed retirement wave hits in the next few years, the prevailing theme seems to be not to replace them. Instead, the idea will be to let everyone left over each do the work of 2 or 3 that retired.

I'm so looking forward to that.

Clutch, let us know how the job search goes!
Reply
post #22 of 30
6/19/07 at 6:18pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl Miller
The future looks even worse as when the big fed retirement wave hits in the next few years, the prevailing theme seems to be not to replace them. Instead, the idea will be to let everyone left over each do the work of 2 or 3 that retired.
That already happened in a big way for the New York state system under Pataki. The slack that couldn't be made up by squeezing out the remaining employees was handled by higher paid private contractor firms. They started hiring again in the final months of the Pataki administration. Who knows where Spitzer will take it.
Reply
post #23 of 30
6/19/07 at 8:00pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
Certainly puts your location into a new light.

--
H



Yup. It's fun, actually. I kinda feel a like a renegade. It's kinda cool, except when I'm bored out of my brains. That's why I need a job that is salary/paycheck until I can get my financial business built and have revolving profit, so-to-speak. I need a place to hang my hat. Somewhere where I can max out in my undies and watch cartoons till my lover gets home. LOL!!
Reply
post #24 of 30
6/19/07 at 10:37pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

"The future looks even worse as when the big fed retirement wave hits in the next few years, the prevailing theme seems to be not to replace them. Instead, the idea will be to let everyone left over each do the work of 2 or 3 that retired."

I'm feeling it. Seven years to go. This is going to get scary.
Reply
post #25 of 30
6/20/07 at 5:54am

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

I don't know where you live -- if it's Boston or LA, then I can see the housing bind.

But I lived for several years, along with friends, on less than $16k. Get a roommate or two, rent a cheap apartment close to work, and buy cheap, used cars (or bike), and life is not too uncomfortable for a while on sub-$20k income.

I don't know your situation, location, or issues, but for a young single guy in a cheaper state, $16k can be enough for independence while pursuing long-term opportunities.
Reply
post #26 of 30
6/20/07 at 7:12pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

I live in New Jerksey, The Tax State.

I refuse to move out with friends. I've seen too many of my friends move out with other people that they thought were their friends and had them, all of a sudden, not have their rent money or lose their job and not find one for months. The best I could do around here is about $950 a month for rent. I could do fine with a $99 mattress on the floor. I've got everything else I need aside from a set of pots and pans, which I could get for all of 75 bucks.

If my GF and I were to go in to an apartment together, including all of our bills (she's financing a new car with < 3 years worth of payments left) and $400 a month for food, we'd have about $400-500 in cash we didn't spend throught the course of the year (this is a combined income of $23,000~). Unfortunately, she needed to get a new car and had the means of getting one without worry. My parents kicked me out of the house a lot sooner than expected. I was hit when I wasn't ready. I had everything situated for me to be able to leave between September and December, depending on how much I wanted to buy before moving out.

My GF (and soon to be, fiancee) doesn't want to move out untill she knows everything is secure. Once she moves out of her house, that's it for her. She won't be allowed back in (atleast not for an extended period of time). So, she's going to finish school and get into her career before she does anything drastic. I agree with her completely on this and support her decision.

We've cut back our spending and changed our cell phone plans. We've quit smoking (for health reasons, not to save money. That was the added bonus of quitting). We're taking on all the doubles and OT we can at work to give us an edge. I personally am seriously considering an assistant manager position at BK or McD's until I can get the gov't job or the financial gig up and running. I could make about 24-28K a year. That give me enough to move out and still afford things.

I don't know, I've just got a whole load of shit on my plate that I need to sort out. It's such a pain in the ass. I've going nuts waiting for July 3rd so I can take my state exam and get my friggin license already. I fugged up the first time and dilly dallied after I got it and didn't get my fingerprints done in time. I did have an excuse the first time, their machine was "down for the day".

Thanks for the ideas and such guys!

Anthony
Reply
post #27 of 30
6/20/07 at 7:42pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Foster

I'm feeling it. Seven years to go. This is going to get scary.

Yeah, it really is getting a little scary. I'm not too far off my 25 years of service. Won't even be 50 when I get there and I have no idea what I'm going to do when the time comes. I can't see going much past 25 years before leaving and finding something else to do.
Reply
post #28 of 30
6/20/07 at 8:30pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch
I live in New Jerksey, The Tax State.

I refuse to move out with friends. I've seen too many of my friends move out with other people that they thought were their friends and had them, all of a sudden, not have their rent money or lose their job and not find one for months. The best I could do around here is about $950 a month for rent. I could do fine with a $99 mattress on the floor. I've got everything else I need aside from a set of pots and pans, which I could get for all of 75 bucks.
Don't know what to say: $1000 by two or three people gets you your own place and saves you $6000 to $8000 a year on rent. $99 matress on a floor is fine if you've got a floor.

Quote:
We've cut back our spending and changed our cell phone plans. We've quit smoking (for health reasons, not to save money. That was the added bonus of quitting). We're taking on all the doubles and OT we can at work to give us an edge. I personally am seriously considering an assistant manager position at BK or McD's until I can get the gov't job or the financial gig up and running. I could make about 24-28K a year. That give me enough to move out and still afford things.
This is smart. And if you can manage your super-low / free rent situation, you'll be able to start saving and build some security buffer and get ready for marrying your girl.

Good luck and success!
Reply
post #29 of 30
6/20/07 at 9:12pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
Don't know what to say: $1000 by two or three people gets you your own place and saves you $6000 to $8000 a year on rent. $99 matress on a floor is fine if you've got a floor.

This is smart. And if you can manage your super-low / free rent situation, you'll be able to start saving and build some security buffer and get ready for marrying your girl.

Good luck and success!

1K is for a one bedroom. A 2 bedroom is about 1300 and three bedroom is about 16+. I have one friend I would possibly move out with, but, after the last time I moved out, I don't want to deal with the shenanigans of living with other people. I got tired pretty quickly of having to clean up after the slobs in that place. I make enough of a mess on my own. LOL!!!

As I said, we're paying off our credit cards together. Some may disagree with me for doing this, but I am helping her pay off her cards. First, I had her charge the Wii I got for her on her card with an agreement that I would pay her, with interest, the amount charged. Second, we'll be able to save up for our future quicker.

The first $2400 I save will be for her wedding/engagement ring set. Then, from there, we're putting together the first months rent plus security deposit and than an additional 3 months rent in reserve in a savings account. We've got a list necessities list and a luxuries list, and we're saving in the in right order.

I wish I could speed up time. I'm very impatient. LOL!! What worries me is, her Mom knows I've been kicked out of the house and that I'm trying to do something about it. I don't want to overstay my welcome, not that I had one to begin with. I've been sleeping here for just about as long as we have been going out. I don't know how long they are going to let me stay before saying something. I need my own place. showering at work sucks!! LOL!!!
Reply
post #30 of 30
6/18/08 at 8:25pm

Re: Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?

Digging this up now that I'm back into the entry-level job search game. Living in the capital of New York, it looks like I really missed the boat. Nobody hired for most of Pataki's administration. Spitzer comes in, hires too many people, and now Paterson's instituted a hiring freeze because the cost of all of Spitzer's hires are too much.
As a result, I've been many looking in the private sector and am in the middle of an interviewing process for a private company that I feel pretty good about so far. That being said, I've had a really good experience working for the government previously and government seems the last remaining bastion of 9-to-5 (as opposed to 8-to-5 or 9-to-6, if not more) and decent benefits.
Anyone have any recent experience with government hiring recently? Is as brutal as it seems to be on my end?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: After Hours Lounge
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Other Diversions › After Hours Lounge › Federal/Civil service employees, a little help please?